Mac McAnally Crowned Musician of the Year at 2017 CMA Awards

Congratulations to the talented Mac McAnally who was named Musician of the Year at the 2017 CMA Awards. The prestigious trophy's winner was announced on Wednesday morning (Nov. 8), prior to Wednesday night's CMA Awards show at Nashville's Bridgestone Arena.

This is the ninth time McAnally, a chart-topping recording artist, producer, songwriter and studio owner, has been honored by his peers in this specific category. He has a previous record-breaking eight consecutive wins (2008-2015) for this award -- quite the feat.

When accepting the award, McAnally said, "Wonders never cease. My friends in the country music world have seen fit to honor me for the ninth time! I'm as blessed as guitar pickers get. Thanks CMA!"

McAnally ties with Chet Atkins for the most wins for CMA Musician of the Year (originally called Instrumentalist of the Year).

While he didn't get a nomination last year, he has been busy writing songs and playing with Jimmy Buffett‘s backing band, the Coral Reefer Band. He released his own album in 2015 and Southbound: The Orchestra Project in 2017.

According to a press release, songwriter Kenny Chesney told American Songwriter magazine, "Mac is one of my favorite singer-songwriters, ever. He is someone that I really respect. Someone I look up to as a songwriter, and a storyteller, and a creative person."

He added, "Look at the craftsmanship and the heart of his work. His melodies move through you, make you feel what he's singing about. His lyrics put you there: the details, the senses, the truths. It's what every songwriter aspires to. ...How many times has he won the CMA's Musician of the Year Award? He makes it look so easy, just like the way he leans into the lyrics of a song."